SEARCH DATABASE
The Global Gender Equality Constitutional Database is a repository of gender equality related provisions in 194 constitutions from around the world. The Database was updated in partnership with the International Bar Association's Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI) and with support from the Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA) and the Government of Japan. Experience its wealth and depth of information by starting your search now.
Jurisdiction and Access
- English
(1) The High Court has jurisdiction —
(a) in relation to Part II (Bill of Rights) of this Constitution - as provided by Division 5 (Enforcement of the Bill of Rights) of that Part; and
(b) in relation to questions as to membership of Parliament - as provided by section 102 (questions as to membership of Parliament); and
(c) in relation to other questions as to the interpretation or application of this Constitution - as provided by section 134 (constitutional interpretation);
(d) in relation to appeals generally - as provided by section 135 (appellate jurisdiction of the High Court); and
(e) in other matters - as provided for by sections 14(3) (which relates to the effect of Parliamentary declarations of purpose) and 136 (other jurisdiction, etc., of the High Court), and otherwise in this Constitution.
… (Sec. 133)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English…
The organic laws may only be promulgated after the Constitutional Court has decided on their conformity with the Constitution. (Art. 85) - Arabic...
لا يمكن إصدار الأمر بتنفيذ القوانين التنظيمية، إلا بعد أن تصرح المحكمة الدستورية بمطابقتها للدستور (الفصل 85)
Jurisdiction and Access
- EnglishThe Constitutional Court tries:
a) Appeals of unconstitutionality against laws, executive regulations and the Rules of Procedure of the General Council.
b) Requests of preliminary opinion of unconstitutionality about international laws and treaties.
c) Processes of constitutional appeal.
d) Conflicts of jurisdiction between constitutional organs. To this effect the Coprinces, the General Council, the Government, the High Court of Justice and the Local Councils are considered as constitutional organs. (Art. 98) - CatalanEl Tribunal Constitucional coneix:
a) Dels processos d'inconstitucionalitat contra les lleis, els decrets legislatius i el reglament del Consell General.
b) Dels requeriments de dictamen previ d'inconstitucionalitat sobre lleis i tractats internacionals.
c) Dels processos d'empara constitucional.
d) Dels conflictes de competències entre els òrgans constitucionals. A aquests efectes, es consideren òrgans constitucionals els coprínceps, el Consell General, el Govern, el Consell Superior de la Justícia i els Comuns. (Art. 98)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English1. The Constitutional Council shall with, general binding force, evaluate and pronounce upon the unconstitutionality of laws and the illegality of other normative acts of State offices, at any time during which they are in force.
2. The following may request the Constitutional Council to pronounce upon the unconstitutionality of laws, or on the illegality of normative acts of State offices:
a. the President of the Republic;
b. the President of the Assembly of the Republic;
c. at least one third of the deputies of the Assembly of the Republic;
d. the Prime Minister;
e. the Attorney General of the Republic;
f. the Ombudsman;
g. two thousand citizens.
3. The law shall establish rules on the admission of actions for the evaluation of unconstitutionality. (Art. 244) - Portuguese1. O Conselho Constitucional aprecia e declara, com força obrigatória geral, a inconstitucionalidade das leis e a ilegalidade dos demais actos normativos dos órgãos do Estado, em qualquer momento da sua vigência.
2. Podem solicitar ao Conselho Constitucional a declaração de inconstitucionalidade das leis ou de ilegalidade dos actos normativos dos órgãos do Estado:
a) o Presidente da República;
b) o Presidente da Assembleia da República;
c) um terço, pelo menos, dos deputados da Assembleia da República;
d) o Primeiro-Ministro;
e) o Procurador-Geral da República;
f) o Provedor de Justiça;
g) dois mil cidadãos.
3. A lei regula o regime de admissão das acções de apreciação de inconstitucionalidade. (Art. 244)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English
(1) The Constitutional Court pronounces judgment on the unconstitutionality
1. of laws
a) on application of a court;
b) ex officio in so far as he will have to apply such a law in a suit pending before him;
c) on application by a person who alleges to have infringement of his rights directly by unconstitutionality, if the ordinance has become effective without a judicial decision having been rendered or a ruling having been rendered has become effective for this person;
d) on application by a person who, as a party in a legal matter that has been decided by a court of justice of first instance, alleges infringement of his rights because of the application of an unconstitutional law, on the occasion of an appeal filed against that decision;
(2) of federal laws also on application by a Provincial Government, a third of the members of the National Council or a third of the members of the Federal Council.
(3) of provincial legislation also at the request of the Federal Government or, if the constitutional law of a province so provides, at the request of a third of the members of the Provincial Parliament.
… (Art. 140) - German
(1) Der Verfassungsgerichtshof erkennt über Verfassungswidrigkeit
1. von Gesetzen
a) auf Antrag eines Gerichtes;
b) von Amts wegen, wenn er das Gesetz in einer bei ihm anhängigen Rechtssache anzuwenden hätte;
c) auf Antrag einer Person, die unmittelbar durch diese Verfassungswidrigkeit in ihren Rechten verletzt zu sein behauptet, wenn das Gesetz ohne Fällung einer gerichtlichen Entscheidung oder ohne Erlassung eines Bescheides für diese Person wirksam geworden ist;
d) auf Antrag einer Person, die als Partei einer von einem ordentlichen Gericht in erster Instanz entschiedenen Rechtssache wegen Anwendung eines verfassungswidrigen Gesetzes in ihren Rechten verletzt zu sein behauptet, aus Anlass eines gegen diese Entscheidung erhobenen Rechtsmittels;
2. von Bundesgesetzen auch auf Antrag einer Landesregierung, eines Drittels der Mitglieder des Nationalrates oder eines Drittels der Mitglieder des Bundesrates;
3. von Landesgesetzen auch auf Antrag der Bundesregierung oder, wenn dies landesverfassungsgesetzlich vorgesehen ist, auf Antrag eines Drittels der Mitglieder des Landtages.
… (Art. 140)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English(1) Where any question as to the interpretation of this Constitution arises in any court of law established for Saint Christopher and Nevis (other than the Court of Appeal, the High Court or a court-martial) and the court is of the opinion that the question involves a substantial question of law, the court may, and shall if any party to the proceedings so requests, refer the question to the High Court.
… (Sec. 97)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English
…
Sovereignty is exercised in accordance with this Constitution which is the Supreme Law of the State.
Any law, any regulatory text and any administrative act contrary to these provisions is null and void. Consequently, any citizen has the right to present himself before the Constitutional Court against the laws, texts and acts presumed unconstitutional. (Art. 3) - French
…
La souveraineté s'exerce conformément à la présente Constitution qui est la Loi Suprême de l'Etat.
Toute loi, tout texte réglementaire et tout acte administratif contraires à ces dispositions sont nuls et non avenus. En conséquence, tout citoyen a le droit de se pourvoir devant la Cour constitutionnelle contre les lois, textes et actes présumés inconstitutionnels. (Art. 3)
Jurisdiction and Access
- English(1) Where any question as to the interpretation or application of this Constitution arises in any proceedings in any court of law in any part of Nigeria (other than in the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeal, the Federal High Court or the National Industrial Court or a High Court) and the court is of the opinion that the question involves a substantial question of law, the court may, and shall if any of the parties to the proceedings so requests, refer the question to the Federal High Court or the National Industrial Court or a High Court having jurisdiction in that part of Nigeria and the Federal High Court or the National Industrial Court or the High Court shall
(a) if it is of opinion that the question involves a substantial question of law, refer the question to the Court of Appeal; or
(b) if it is of opinion that the question does not involve a substantial question of law, remit the question to the court that made the reference to be disposed of in accordance with such directions as the Federal High Court or the National Industrial Court or the High Court may think fit to give.
(2) Where any question as to the interpretation or application of this constitution arises in any proceedings in the Federal High Court or the National Industrial Court or a High Court, and the court is of opinion that the question involves a substantial question of law, the court may, and shall if any party to the proceedings so requests, refer the question to the Court of Appeal; and where any question is referred in pursuance of this subsection, the court shall give its decision upon the question and the court in which the question arose shall dispose of the case in accordance with that decision.
(3) Where any question as to the interpretation or application of this constitution arises in any proceedings in the Court of Appeal and the court is of opinion that the question involves a substantial question of law, the court may, and shall if any party to the proceedings so requests, refer the question to the Supreme Court which shall give its decision upon the question and give such directions to the Court of Appeal as it deems appropriate. (Sec. 295)
Jurisdiction and Access
- EnglishThe Chancellor of Justice is a government official who scrutinises legislative instruments of the legislative and executive branch of government and of local authorities for conformity with the Constitution and the laws, and who is independent in discharging his or her duties.
… (Sec. 139) - EstonianÕiguskantsler on oma tegevuses sõltumatu ametiisik, kes teostab järelevalvet seadusandliku ja täidesaatva riigivõimu ning kohaliku omavalitsuse õigustloovate aktide põhiseadusele ja seadustele vastavuse üle.
… (§ 139)
Jurisdiction and Access
- EnglishThe Supreme Court of Justice has original and exclusive jurisdiction in the hearing and decision of such matters; and must render its decision in accordance with the requirement for final decisions. (Art. 257)
- SpanishA la Suprema Corte de Justicia le compete el conocimiento y la resolución originaria y exclusiva en la materia; y deberá pronunciarse con los requisitos de las sentencias definitivas. (Art. 257)